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Council asks staff to explore policy after residents allege code-enforcement 'weaponization'
Summary
Councilwoman Gillis asked the city manager and attorney to explore policies to limit which departments can open code-enforcement cases after residents said they felt targeted; staff and code enforcement described current practices and agreed to research possible checks and balances.
Councilwoman Gillis told colleagues she had received multiple complaints from residents who felt code enforcement had been used as retaliation after they spoke at meetings, and she asked the city manager and attorney to explore a policy change that would limit who can initiate code cases. "I've had numerous residents ... that said they were uncomfortable talking" and worried about repercussions, she said, requesting staff to 'look at a possible policy change.'
City code enforcement (identified in the discussion as Laresi) explained that the department operates proactively—about "55% proactive"—and that state law prevents the city from acting on anonymous complaints. Laresi said when code enforcement receives a complaint from another department they often act quickly and that staff would 'maybe step back a little bit' and coordinate more thoroughly to avoid giving residents the impression of targeting. The council asked the city manager and city attorney to research legal and operational options and report back.
